Background: Under current law, the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) regulates various transportation industries, including passenger charter and excursion carriers. A charter party carrier is a service engaged in the transportation of a group of persons who under a single contract have acquired the use of a motor bus to travel together to a specified destination or for a particular itinerary. An excursion service carrier is a service, which may be regularly scheduled, engaged in the transportation of persons for compensation from points of origin to any other locations within the state of Washington and returning to that origin.

Current law does not specifically state that a service providing transportation of persons by party bus, in which food, beverages, or entertainment may be provided, is legally engaged in the business of a charter party carrier or excursion service carrier.

The following are not subject to charter and excursion carrier regulations: (1) persons operating motor vehicles wholly within the limits of incorporated cities; (2) persons operating taxicabs, hotel buses, or school buses; (3) passenger vehicles carrying passengers on a noncommercial basis; or (4) limousine charter party carriers.

Summary of Bill: Transporting persons by party bus over any public highway is specifically considered in law as engaging in the business of a charter party carrier or excursion service carrier, subject to UTC regulation.

The following provisions relating to the consumption of alcohol aboard charter and excursion carriers are specified:

A carrier may not provide alcoholic beverages to a customer;
Alcohol may not be consumed aboard an excursion service carrier;
If alcoholic beverages are served or consumed aboard a charter party carrier, the carrier must (1) confirm that an alcohol permittee is present at all times during the service; (2) obtain a copy of the customer's special liquor permit; (3) require the permittee to check the identification of all passengers; and (4) require the permittee to sign a statement verifying the permittee knowingly assumes responsibility for compliance with the terms of the special liquor permit;
If the alcohol-related provisions are not fulfilled before transportation services are scheduled to begin, the charter party carrier must prohibit passengers under 21 from boarding the vehicle or cancel the trip;
If the carrier learns that alcohol is being served or consumed around passengers under 21 without a permittee present, or that any person under 21 has consumed alcoholic beverages, the carrier must remove all alcoholic beverages and terminate the trip; and
Any carrier in violation of the alcohol-related provisions is subject to a penalty of up to $5,000.

A carrier may not knowingly allow any passenger to smoke aboard a carrier's vehicle. Smoke is defined as the carrying or smoking of any kind of lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, or any other lighted smoking equipment.

The exemption from UTC regulations for persons operating motor vehicles wholly within the limits of incorporated cities is removed.

Engaging in the business of a charter party carrier or excursion service carrier is clarified to include certain advertising activities. Engaging in the carrier business without a valid UTC certificate subjects the violator to a penalty of up to $5,000.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: The UTC learned of various incidents of people being seriously hurt or killed while riding party buses. The agency is attempting to regulate these vehicles, but there are gaps in current law. The bill is an attempt to close those gaps. The bill would significantly improve safety for passengers on party buses, specifically regarding alcohol use and smoking. In 2008 Ms. Raymond's sister Shannon was killed on a party bus in British Columbia, Canada. Alcohol was present on the bus, as was underage drinking and illegal drug use. In 2013 another death occurred in B.C. on a party bus. The unregulated nature of the industry is a significant public safety hazard and a risk to minors and the public at large.

CON: The study mentioned just looked at exaggerated news reports. Limousine companies are usually involved in the most serious incidents, not charter buses. Charter bus companies follow current banquet permits and liquor laws. Charter bus companies follow the open container law, which really should be a federal law. The bill doesn't stop the risk of people renting a bus on their own and causing problems. The bill puts too much burden on the bus driver to make sure the alcohol-related laws are complied with.